What age is the HPV vaccine suitable for?

A while ago, a friend excitedly said that she was going to Hong Kong to get the HPV 9-valent vaccine, and asked me if I wanted to go with her. But as far as I know, this type of vaccine should only be given to little girls under 20 years old, right? I'm still 27, so obviously I don't have any application areas, right? Others say that women over 40 are more likely to get gynecological diseases, but I am still far from that stage. There is really no need to spend thousands of dollars and go to Hong Kong three times in half a year to get vaccines... When my friend heard me mumbling, he actually helped me learn science seriously! But I have to admit that until that day, I realized that all my thoughts were wrong!

Misconception 1: Am I already too old to get the HPV vaccine?

At present, although the 9-valent HPV vaccine has been launched in China, it is only available to women aged 16-26. People not in this range cannot be vaccinated. The age limit of 26 is because 26-28 is the period of high sexual activity, and women in this age group are likely to have been infected with the HPV virus. Instead of getting vaccinated, it is better to use this budget for screening of cervical diseases. However, experiments have confirmed that for women over 26 years old who are not infected with the HPV virus, the practical significance of getting the HPV vaccine is still quite large. At present, the age limit for HPV vaccine in Hong Kong is much more relaxed. The 4-valent and 9-valent HPV vaccines are suitable for all people over 9 years old, both men and women can be vaccinated, while the 2-valent HPV vaccine is only suitable for women over 9 years old, so there is little practical significance for men to be vaccinated.

Misconception 2: Young people don’t have to worry about getting cervical cancer?

In recent years, poor daily life and diet have led to an increasing probability of young women suffering from gynecological diseases. Although cervical cancer is most common between the ages of 40 and 50, many women are infected with one or more HPV viruses at the age of 20-30, so it is best to get the HPV vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccines are very effective in preventing and treating viral infections, but they are ineffective against viral models that have already been infected.